Low tur production may jack up price: JAU study

The price of Tur (split pigeon peas) may continue to remain high over the next two months as its output is estimated to be lower than that of the last year, says a study on price forecast conducted by the Junagadh Agriculture University (JAU).

The study states that tur is likely to be priced between Rs 5,200 - Rs 5,700 per quintal in March. Price of the lentil started rising in November 2014 and currently, it is in the range of Rs 4,500 - Rs 5,300 per quintal across various markets in the country. In January, tur price had touched Rs 6,000 per quintal level.

"Erratic rainfall and dry spells in several parts of the country contributed to the low production of the lentil. Consequently, India's tur production for 2014-15 is estimated to be 16.7 per cent lower at 2.74 million tonnes from last year's 3.29 million tonnes," said, Maganlal Dhandhalya, associate research scientist, department of agricultural economics, JAU.

The Centre had fixed the minimum support price (MSP) of tur for 2014-15 Kharif season at Rs 4,350 per quintal as against Rs 4,300 per quintal in the previous year.

Tur acreage in Gujarat in the current year is estimated to be about 225,000 hectares, marginally less than last year's 240,000 hectares and output is estimated to be less by about 235,000 tonnes.

The study pegged India's tur consumption at about 3.6 million tonnes.

Meanwhile, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Karnataka Pradesh Red Gram Growers Association has sought a sustainable policy for pulses to protect farmers' interest and being consumer-friendly.

If government raises import duty on pulses, there is chance that price of the lentil may go up slightly in future.

The JAU report suggested farmers to take their own decision to store tur and sell after March.